RAF Typhoons were scrambled after Russian planes flew close to UK airspace today

A Royal Air Force spokesman said: “We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest.

"At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.”

It's understood that the Russian bombers flew between Shetland and the Faroe Islands and then down the west coast of Ireland.

Vladimir Putin has ordered his army and air force to prepare for a "time of war" during a check of the country's armed forces.

Family torment

HOUSE OF HORRORS

bail rules

One of Ana Kriegel murder accused allowed spend Christmas Day with grandparents

Exclusive

'devastating injuries'

Dublin lag hospitalised after being stabbed by knife offender inmate

Breaking

COURT APPEARANCE

Two men charged after explosive device discovered in van by cops in Meath

SCHUMI’S ROCK

Michael Schumacher ‘being nursed to back to health’ by ever-present wife

'really frightening'

Man, 60s, viciously stabbed after he interrupts burglar in Cork home

two detained

Gardai arrest teenager and man after €100,000 cocaine found in car in Dublin

'we're disappointed'

Evicted family in Roscommon break silence and criticise Leo Varadkar

Latest

TRUCKING HELL

Major incident after 6 lorries topple over in gales on P&O ferry from Ireland

The warning is likely to be a response to the massive NATO operations currently underway in eastern Europe.

Germany and NATO this week underscored their commitment to beefing up the defence of eastern Europe's border with Russia as the first of four new batallions under the North Atlantic alliance's banner arrived in Lithuania.

In moves agreed last year under former President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War, prompted by Russia's annexation of Crimea and accusations that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine.